The Christmas Haunting of Roos Hall of the Headless Horseman

It is not Santa Claus with his reindeer sleigh that comes to Roos Hall for Christmas. According to legend, there is a headless horseman pulling a carriage that takes their annual visit for Christmas Eve.

In the countryside of Suffolk, just outside the quaint town of Beccles, stands Roos Hall—a red brick mansion among the green woodlands, shrouded in mystery and dark tales. This Grade I listed Tudor manor, built in 1583, has earned its reputation as one of the most haunted places in England and it is said that the site used to be a place for executions.

It was built by the De Roos family, a Baron family. With its original fireplaces, paneling, and medieval parkland setting, Roos Hall is not only a historical gem but also a hotspot for paranormal activity, especially during the Christmas season.

It is not Santa Claus with his reindeer sleigh that comes to Roos Hall for Christmas. According to legend, there is a headless horseman pulling a carriage that takes their annual visit for Christmas Eve.

The Headless Horseman Haunting Roos Hall

Among the myriad of ghost stories associated with Roos Hall, the legend of the headless horseman stands out as particularly chilling. This spectral figure is said to ride down the driveway of the mansion on Christmas Eve, clattering through the night with his phantom coach and two or four horses. This was coincidentally the day the family was appointed a Baron in 1264, although nothing strange is said to have happened on that day Robert De Roos was appointed.

Read Also: The Mysterious Tale of Borley Rectory – Was it Really Haunted? for more stories about the headless horseman.

Witnesses have reported seeing the terrifying sight of a man on horseback, only to realize in horror that he has no head. The headless horseman is dragging a carriage behind him, barreling up in the driveway before disappearing right when they reach the door.

When they arrive at the door, a woman is said to get out of the carriage, looking to be of flesh and blood, and according to legend, if you meet her gaze, it will turn you mad.

The apparition’s sudden appearance and eerie silence send shivers down the spines of those who encounter it, cementing its place in local folklore.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the Christmas season

This story was first read about in the Eastern Daily Press from January 26th in 1909. The story came from two workers of F.W.D Robinson who owned the Hall then after years of changing hands throughout the times. They claimed they saw the carriage and the woman. In this version of the story though the worker Benjamin Benns saw it four times that year, and Robert Elvin saw it a week before Christmas and again before Christmas Eve. When the legend started to only happen on Christmas Eve though is uncertain.

The Devil’s Footprints in Roos Hall

Inside Roos Hall, the haunting tales continue. Among the most disturbing are the mysterious markings known as the devil’s footprints. These strange indentations have been found in various parts of the mansion, sparking fear and speculation.

One of these marks are said to be found on the wall of a cupboard or in a wardrobe inside one of the bedrooms. And when saying the devil’s mark, people mostly refer to it as a hoof branded into the solid brick.

Some believe that these are the remnants of a sinister presence that once roamed the halls, leaving behind physical evidence of its malevolent visits. The origins of these footprints remain unexplained, adding to the eerie atmosphere that envelops Roos Hall.

The Gibbet on the Oak Tree

It is also said that there is the ghost of a woman in white circling the big oak tree on the front of the property. The tree is on the lawn around 100 ft from the driveway. Who she is is uncertain, but it is said she is circling the oak tree six times in order to summon the devil. This particular oak, today with a wooden fence around it, is said to be a tree where criminals were sentenced to death.

The De Roos’ job as landowners was also to punish criminals. For this, they used a gibbet, looking almost like a gallow where they hung criminals as a way to deter people to follow in their footsteps and show what would happen to them. They were usually dead, but sometimes, hung there for many days as they were just awaiting death.

Later they planted the three known as Nelson’s tree there instead to hang people from. In addition to the woman, there was also a man wearing torn trousers and a brown jacket. People believe that it has to be people that once were executed here.

The Ghostly Girl in the Window

Roos Hall’s spectral residents are not limited to headless horsemen and devilish imprints. Visitors and residents alike have reported sightings of a pale young girl peering out from the windows of the mansion on the first-floor.

This ghostly figure is often seen observing from a distance, waving at you, her expression forlorn and her presence unsettling. The identity of this apparition is unknown, but her frequent appearances suggest a tragic past tied to the history of Roos Hall.

The haunted Suffolk hall where a headless horseman appears every Christmas Eve - Suffolk Live — **The Oak Tree**: Also known as the hanging tree. // (Image: Gerry DeFalco/Suffolk Live)

A Haunted Legacy of Roos Hall

The haunting of Roos Hall is deeply woven into the fabric of its history. Built in the 16th century, the manor has seen centuries of human joy, sorrow, and strife, each leaving its mark on the building. Over time, these emotions have seemingly manifested into the ghostly phenomena that now define Roos Hall.

Christmas, a time of warmth and family gatherings, takes on a different tone within these haunted walls. The festive season’s contrast with the mansion’s dark history makes the haunting experiences all the more jarring for those who witness them.

In the stillness of a Suffolk night, as the Christmas lights flicker and the winter wind whispers through the ancient trees, the spirits of Roos Hall are arriving in the carriage pulled by the headless horseman, ready for its annual haunting.